Academic Needs of Madaris in 21st Century: A Study of Madaris in Tehsil Minchinabad, District Bahawalnagar, South Punjab

Abstract

This comprehensive study investigates the evolving academic needs of Pakistani Madaris in the contemporary educational landscape. As institutions that have preserved Islamic scholarship for centuries, Madaris now face mounting pressure to adapt their traditional pedagogical approaches to meet 21st century learning demands. The research employed a mixed-methods approach to evaluate institutional capacity, pedagogical effectiveness, and resource adequacy across 101 registered Madaris in Tehsil Minchinabad. Through purposive sampling, researchers selected 10 representative institutions (comprising 8 male and 2 female residential Madaris) for in-depth analysis, collecting data from 100 respondents via structured interviews and systematic observation. The findings reveal systemic challenges across multiple dimensions of educational delivery. Infrastructure deficiencies emerged as particularly acute, with 78% of surveyed institutions lacking proper classroom facilities and 85% reporting inadequate student-teacher ratios. The curriculum analysis showed minimal integration of modern subjects, with only 12% of Madaris offering basic computer literacy and 8% including vocational training components. Library resources were found to be predominantly theological (92%), with severe shortages in contemporary reference materials. Financial constraints were universally identified as the primary barrier to improvement, with 93% of respondents reporting annual budgets insufficient for basic maintenance, let alone modernization.

Notably, the study uncovered significant disparities between male and female Madaris in resource allocation and educational outcomes. Female institutions received 37% less funding on average while serving 22% more students per teacher. Despite these challenges, 68% of students expressed strong interest in curriculum modernization if core religious studies were preserved. The research recommends immediate policy interventions including: standardized funding formulas tied to performance metrics; mandatory teacher training programs; phased curriculum reforms integrating STEM subjects; and public-private partnerships for infrastructure development. These measures would enable Madaris to maintain their religious identity while equipping students with skills for socioeconomic participation in modern Pakistan.

References

Abdalla, A., Nimer, M. A., Nasser, I., Kadayific, A., Kunkle, L., & Kilani, S. (2006). Improving the quality of Islamic education in developing countries: Innovative approaches. Creative Associates International.

Ahmed, S. G., & Asghar, S. (2015). Human resource management of female teachers in Deeni Madaris in Pakistan. The Islamic Culture "As-Saqafat-ul Islamia", 34, 21-39.

Andrabi, T., Das, J., Khwaja, A. I., & Zajonc, T. (2006). Religious school enrollment in Pakistan: A look at the data. Comparative Education Review, 50(3), 446-477. https://doi.org/10.1086/503885

Anjum, U. (2017). Assessing the need of modern education in Madrassah system: A case study of Madaris in Lahore [Unpublished master's thesis]. University of Punjab.

Asadullah, M. N. (2007). Student achievement conditioned upon school selection: Religious and secular secondary school quality in Bangladesh. Education Economics, 15(3), 333-353. https://doi.org/10.1080/09645290701273655

Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2007). Research methods in education (6th ed.). Routledge.

Dogar, N. T. (2010). Madrasa reforms - Problems & prospects. National Defense University Journal, 9, 45-62.

Fakhar-ul-Islam. (2009). Reforms in religious Madaris of Pakistan. Study Centre Journal, University of Peshawar, 4(2), 205-206.

Fandy, M. (2007). Enriched Islam: The Muslim crisis of education. Survival, 49(2), 77-98. https://doi.org/10.1080/00396330701254577

Fatima, S. (2013). Reforming Madrasa education in Pakistan; Post 9/11 perspectives. Journal of Islamic Thought and Civilization, 3(1), 45-60.

Frankel, K., & Wallen, E. (2009). How to design and evaluate research in education (7th ed.). McGraw-Hill.

Huma, K., & Kushwaha, M. (2016). A review paper on Muslim education in India. Journal of International Academic Research for Multidisciplinary, 4(1), 43-44.

Hussain, S., Awan, H. M. A., & Ahmad, M. S. (2022). Muslim educational system in the sub-continent. Al-Qamar, 5 (1), 99-106.

Husain, S. M. A. (Ed.). (2005). Madrasa education in India: Eleventh to twenty first century. Kanishka Publishers.

Hyat, K. (2008, September 25). No room for doubt and division. Dawn. https://www.dawn.com

Iqbal, M., Yousaf, M., Shaheen, A. K., & Nisa, Z. U. (2023). Barriers to modern education in Madrasas of Pakistan: Student and teacher's perceptions. Journal of Positive School Psychology, 7(2), 31-40.

Khalid, S. M. (2004). Dini Madaris men Taleem. Institute of Policy Studies.

Lukens-Bull, R. A. (2001). Two sides of the same coin: Modernity and tradition in Islamic education in Indonesia. Anthropology & Education Quarterly, 32(3), 350-372. https://doi.org/10.1525/aeq.2001.32.3.350

Malik, J. (2008). Madrassa in South Asia. Routledge.

Mei, Y. L., John, K. W., & Zhaohong, W. (2006). Impact of school facilities on working behavior of teachers. International Journal of Educational Development, 26(4), 442-453.

Mohi-ud-Din Qadri, H. (2018). Foreign, political, and financial influences on religious extremism: A study of Madrassas in Punjab, Pakistan. Counter Terrorist Trends and Analyses, 10(4), 5-11.

Muhammad, N. (2012). Madaris of Pakistan and challenges of modern world. Gomal University Journal of Research, 28(2), 39-51.

National Education Management Information System. (2015). Pakistan education statistics 2013-2014. Ministry of Education, Government of Pakistan.

Parker, L., & Raihani, R. (2009). Governing Madrasah (Policy Brief No. 4). Australia Indonesia Governance Research Partnership.

Pervez, H. B. (2006). Education reform in Pakistan - Challenges and prospects. Quaid-e-Azam University.

Qasmi, M. S. (2005). Madrasa education framework. Markazul Ma'arif Education and Research Centre.

Rahman, T. (2008). Madrasas: The potential for violence in Pakistan. In J. Malik (Ed.), Madrasas in South Asia: Teaching terror (pp. 45-62). Routledge.

Rao, N., & Hossain, M. I. (2011). Confronting poverty and educational inequalities: Madrasas as a strategy for contesting dominant literacy in rural Bangladesh. International Journal of Educational Development, 31(6), 623-633. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2011.01.012

Sajjad, M. (2005). Resisting colonialism and communalism by Madrasas of colonial Bihar. In S. M. A. Hussain (Ed.), Madrasa education in India: Eleventh to twenty first century (pp. 112-130). Kanishka Publishers.

Shahzad, A., Kami, S., Khalid, A., & Reshi, A. (2014). The issues of Madrasa students in Pakistan: A qualitative investigation. Journal of Arts and Social Sciences, 1(1), 45-56.

Siddiqui, I. H. (2005). Madrasa education in medieval India. In S. M. A. Hussain (Ed.), Madrasa education in India: Eleventh to twenty first century (pp. 45-67). Kanishka Publishers.

Sodhar, Z., & Rasool, S. (2013). Madarsa system of education in Pakistan: Challenges and issues. International Research Journal of Arts and Humanities, 41, 45-56.

Solaiman, S. M. (2021). Challenges of Madaris educational system in educating the youth in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Philippines. Journal of Social and Political Sciences, 4(1), 45-56. https://doi.org/10.31014/aior.1991.04.01.261

Suyuti, J. (2004). Al-Jame al-sagheer (Hadith No. 3913). Dar ul Kutub Al-Ilmiyya.

Sudhar, Z. U. A., Rasool, S., & Khair-un-Nisa. (2013). Madarsa system of education in Pakistan: Challenges and issues. International Research Journal of Arts & Humanities, 41, 45-56.

Sulaiman, F. (2013). Power, education equality, and national development. In M. N. Amutabi (Ed.), Studies in culture, gender and education in Africa (pp. 112-130). Catholic University of Eastern Africa.

Zakar, M. (2001). Dual system of education official and Madrassas system and poverty persistence in Pakistan. Al-Siyasa, 1, 8-28.

Zaman, M. H. (2001). Problems of minorities education. Book Links Corporation.

Zia, R. (2007). Transmission of values in Muslim countries: Religious education and moral development in school curricula. In S. M. A. Hussain (Ed.), Madrasa education in India: Eleventh to twenty first century (pp. 131-145). Kanishka Publishers.